Recommendations for specific day hikes in Denali N.P.

[louie]

Hello all,

 

I'm looking for recommendations for specific areas to explore in

Denali N.P. I've done all of the entrance area hikes (Mt. Healy,

Horseshoe Lake, etc...), and am looking for backcountry

recommendations.

 

I'll be in Denali during the first week of September. I've got

reservations for Wonder Lake for two nights. This leaves 3 days for

other day hikes. I've been to Denali before, and have done a solo

backpack trip up the valley of the East Branch of the Toklat River.

 

From what I've read in the archives, the only specific recommendation

I've found is to explore the Riley Creek Drainage for fall colors. To

me, this translates into doing the Triple Lakes Trail.

 

I've read through the day hikes recommended in Ike Waits guidebook on

Denali, and I'm thinking of concentrating a day hiking around the

Polychrome area and one day around the Stony Hill/Dome area. I'm

looking for landscapes, preferably with fall color (though, whether

fall color shows up while I'm there is up to mother nature, of

course.) Wildlife would be good too, but as I'm hiking solo, I tend

to like areas with good visibility and not too many bears ;).

 

The rest of my time will be in the Wonder Lake area. Speaking of

which, can anybody tell me the location of the Reflection Pond? From

what I've been able to gather, it's a couple of miles from the

campground, but I'm not sure where - west or north?

 

So, any comments/suggestions/recommendations for day hikes in the

backcountry that lend themselves well to photography?

[qtluong]

The Reflection Pond is next to the main road (South side), between the junction with the campground road and the ranger station

near the North end of Wonder Lake.

Personally I prefer the North end of Wonder Lake.

Tuan <a href = "http://www.terragalleria.com/parks/np.denali.html">images of

Denali National Park</a>

[scott bacon]

<p>Tuan's response on the location of Reflection Pond is right on the mark (no

surprise there...). I'm pretty sure you can see it on the map

<a href="http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=5&n=7039982&e=605836&s=50">here</a>,

just across the road from the "H" in "Highway". The pond is just about half-way

between the campground road junction and the Ranger Station. Good location for

both <a href="http://www.naturalorderphoto.com/gallery/ak/ak-00317.htm">early

morning</a> and evening photography.</p>

<p>For hiking, I liked Stony Hill and McKinley Bar (from the Wonder Lake

campground). Unfortunately, I had bad weather during both of these hikes and

didn't get many good landscape images. Your chances of clear weather will be

much better in September (I was there in July of '92 and June of '93).</p>

[doug herr]

Primrose Ridge is a good stiff hike from the Savage Rock area. From Savage Rock, cross the river and head up the hill. There can be some dense willows hiding moose so be careful. At the top of the ridge there can be Dall sheep, and in season many species of cool birds.

<P>

Also try Igloo Mountain for Dall sheep. No real trails so you have to make your own path. Tattler Creek at the west end of Igloo Canyon is good, but it's near the Sable Pass bear closure so beware and don't go too far south (to Sable Pass).

<P>

Reflection Pond in September:

<CENTER>

<IMG SRC="http://www.wildlightphoto.com/land/denali.jpg">

</CENTER>

[micheal_kelly]

I really like doing landscapes from Highway pass/Stoney Hill. Especially in the Fall (late Aug!). Polychrome is a good too, tho.

Igloo is best on memorial day when the new-born lambs are jumping around.

 

Have a great trip.

[bruce]

Louie,

My wife and I returned from a 2 week + trip to Alask earlier today.

We spent 7 days in Denali, four of which were spent in or near

Wonder Lake. I stongly reccomend that you do the McKinnley

Barr Trail. The trail head is a half mile from the Wonder Lake

campground. The trail is an easy 3 mile hike through blueberry

bushes, bogs, river rock beds and an old spruce forest. The trail

ends about 3 miles from the trail head at the McKinnley river.

 

Another great Wonder Lake hike is up to the old water tower.

This is a little more rigorous, but it gets you into a mixed tundra /

boreal landscape with multiple kettle lakes.

 

One word of caution. Tamy and I were a bit disappointed with

your trip as much of Denali was impacted by smoke from nearby

fires... this made landscapes extremely challenging!

 

regards,

bruce

 

http://www.owlseyenaturephotos.com

[louie]

Bruce,

 

Thanks for the report on current conditions. I was in Denali back

in August of 1999, and did the McKinley Bar trail back then. I'll

probably try to fit in a quick hike down there. Sorry to hear about

the fires. I had not read about them on the NPS website.

 

Btw, how were the mosquitos at Wonder Lake? I heard there

was a bumper crop of mosquitos this year. I was hoping that I'd

be traveling late enough in the season to avoid them.

[ron_niebrugge]

It was a bumper crop for mosquitoes this year. By mid June they were plentiful, and by the end of June out by Wonder Lake they were thick. I was back out by Wonder Lake at the end of July, and they had really thinned out, didn�t even need bug spray. By now you should by fine.

 

The smoke from fires was really frustrating this August, even as far South as the coast it got bad. The recent rains should have help greatly in that area.

 

As far as hiking, there are some good hikes leaving from the Eielson area, especially if the mountain is out. Stony, Polychrome, really just about anywhere in the Park can offer some great hiking. You will be there at a wonderful time of year.